Seminary Celebrates Patronal Feast of St. Vladimir of Kiev

14–15 July 2011 • On-campus Event

Our seminary community marked its Patronal Feast with a celebration that included fellowship, fun, and worship. Neighboring alumni joined our staff, faculty, and resident summer students for Great Vespers on Thursday evening, followed by a cookout on the grassy knoll below Three Hierarchs Chapel.

(from left) Dean Archpriest John Behr, Board of Trustee Executive Chair Anne Mackoul, and Chancellor Archpriest Chad Hatfield, together in front of the icon of St. Vladimir, on the seminary's Patronal Feast.The next morning, our Dean, Archpriest John Behr presided at the Divine Liturgy and presented a homily that highlighted the life and work of the seminary's patron, the Holy and Great Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the Apostles and Enlightener of the Russian Lands. In his sermon, Fr. John recounted the story of St. Vladimir's conversion to belief in Christ and his missionary zeal.

Father John also reminded those gathered that the founders of St. Vladimir's Seminary embraced the Russian prince at their patron, not because of ethnicity or nationalistic reasons, but because of the saint's quest to discover Jesus Christ as the "Pearl of Great Price" (Matt 13:45–47) and because of his dedication in spreading His gospel to the people of Rus'. Following Divine Liturgy, the seminary community then celebrated a Memorial Service (Pankhida) to mark the anniversary of the falling asleep of Protopresbyter John Meyendorff, who served as Professor of Church History and Patristics at St. Vladimir's Seminary from 1959–1962 and as Dean from 1984 until his death in 1992.

We sincerely thank the alumni and friends who came to pray and picnic with us during our Patronal Feast!